Method for cutting a cord reinforced elastomeric laminate

ABSTRACT

This invention pertains to a method and for cutting an intermediate article of manufacture, the intermediate article of manufacture being a cord reinforced elastomeric laminate. The laminate, when cut to length, becoming a carcass for a pneumatic tire. The laminate is cut by a cutting element at angles θ greater than 60° relative to a normal plane (NP) perpendicular to a cord reinforced ply of the laminate and parallel to the cords to thereby create large substantially flat planar splice surfaces without significant deformation or precuring of the unvulcanized elastomeric materials. To facilitate this cut, the relative position of the cutting element and the ply is changed to an angle β, β being less than θ. The ply is cut a short distance, at the angle β, to position the cutting element between two parallel cords. Then the cutting element is reoriented to the angle θ to complete the cut.

This is a continuation of copending application(s) of Ser. No.08/369,211, filed on Jan. 5, 1995, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to a unique method and apparatus 100 for cuttingan intermediate article of manufacture, the intermediate article ofmanufacture being a cord reinforced elastomeric laminate structure 10A.More specifically, the invention relates to methods and apparatus forcutting an unvulcanized cord reinforced elastomeric laminate 10A, thecut-to-length laminate being a carcass 10 which is formed into acylindrical shape at a tire building station and is a subassembly of aradial ply pneumatic tire. The invention describes a method for cuttinga carcass for a radial ply passenger tire, but it is equally applicableto light truck, medium truck, agricultural, off-the-road and otherradial ply tire carcass constructions.

The manufacturing technologies employed to build a tire involveassembling the many tire components from flat strips or sheets ofelastomeric material. Each component is placed on a building drum andcut to length such that the ends of the component meet or overlapcreating a splice. Many methods and apparatus for cutting elastomericmaterials are known in the art. These prior art cutting methods andapparatus included cutting wheels, ultrasonic cutters, scissor typecutters and guillotine knives. A significant disadvantage in these priorart methods was the inability to cut the ply without cutting or damagingthe cords. Another major disadvantage was the inherent difficultyexperienced when trying to cut the cord reinforced component at an angleother than perpendicular to the ply's length. For this reason, whenbuilding a laminate tire carcass, the tire builder generally would usebutt or lap splices. The preferred prior art method usescircumferentially spaced lap splices.

The apparatus of the present invention can cut a cord reinforcedlaminate at angles heretofore believed unachievable without significantdeformation or precuring of the unvulcanized elastomeric material. Thiscan be done precisely and quickly. The cutting means providesimprovements to these splice surfaces. The splice quality of the cutelastomeric materials is greatly enhanced vastly improving the adhesionof the components during subsequent tire building and vulcanizationprocesses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved method andapparatus 100 for cutting a cord reinforced elastomeric laminate 10A isdisclosed.

The laminate 10A has a length L and a width W. The laminate 10A includesat least one cord reinforced elastomeric ply 20 and a plurality ofelastomeric components laminated to the ply. The ply 20 has parallelcords 22 oriented at an angle 65° to 90° relative to the length of thelaminate 10A.

The method of cutting the laminate 10A includes the step of cutting thelaminate 10A across a majority of its width at an angle θ, θ beinggreater than 60° relative to a plane (NP) perpendicular to the ply andparallel to the cords 22 in the ply, the cutting being accomplished bypassing a cutting element 120 through the ply and laminated componentsfrom one side of the laminate 10A to the other side until the ply 20 andother laminated components are cut, the cutting element 120 being passedbetween two adjacent parallel cords 22 of the ply 20 in the region ofthe ply 20.

In a preferred method the cutting element 120 is oriented at an angle θof about 80°. The cutting element 120, as it traverses through the cordreinforced elastomeric ply 20, is preferably guided by an adjacent cord22 along the cutting path.

Due to the close spacing of the cords 22 it is also preferable to changethe relative position of the cutting element 120 and the ply 20 to anangle β just prior to the cutting element 120 entering the ply, β beingmeasured relative to the plane (NP), the plane (NP) being perpendicularto the ply 20 and parallel to the cords 22, β being less than θ,preferably 45° or less, most preferably about 0° relative to the plane(NP) or in other words, perpendicular to the ply's length. After cuttinginto the ply 20 a short distance sufficient to position the cuttingelement 120 between two parallel cords 22, the cutting element is thenreoriented relative to the ply 20 to the angle θ and continuing to cutthe laminate 10A across its width.

The preferred method also includes the step of oscillating the cuttingelement 120 as it cuts through the laminate 10A.

Another preferred method of cutting an uncured rubber laminate 10A, thelaminate 10A being of a fixed width and length longer than required toform a carcass 10 is described below. The laminate 10A after cutting isused to form a carcass 10 for a radial ply pneumatic tire, the laminatehaving a ply 20 that becomes radially oriented in the tire, the plybeing reinforced by parallel cords and two or more non-reinforcedelastomeric components laminated to the ply 20. The method of cuttinghas the steps of: a) supporting the laminate 10A at a position spacedfrom a cutting element 120; b) urging the cutting element 120 intocutting engagement with the laminate 10A; c) orienting the cuttingelement 120 at an angle θ being 60° or more, preferably being 70° ormore; d) cutting the laminate 10A across a majority of its width andthickness while maintaining a majority of the portion of the cuttingelement 120 that engages the laminate 10A at the angle θ, the cuttingelement 120 being guided by adjacent parallel cords in the region of theply 20; e) moving the cut laminate 10A a predetermined distance in adirection parallel with its length; and cutting the laminate 10A asecond time with the cutting element 120 repeating steps c, d, and eabove, thereby forming a cut section of laminate 10A having surfaceareas 12,14 at the sections opposite ends 12,14, the surface areas 12,14being spaced a predetermined distance required to enable the ends 12,14to be spliced together in forming a cylindrical carcass 10 from the cutsection. In this method, the cutting element 120 is preferably a wire,the wire being oscillated in a reciprocating motion to create a cut. Thepeak-to-peak amplitude is preferably limited to less than 25 mm.

The apparatus 100 for cutting the cord reinforced elastomeric laminate10A has a means 102 for cutting the laminate 10A across a majority ofits width at an angle θ of substantially greater than 600 relative to aplane (NP) perpendicular to the ply 20 and parallel to the cords 22. Themeans 102 for cutting has a cutting element 120 for cutting the laminate10A and passing between the adjacent parallel cords 22 in the ply 20.The means 102 for cutting also has a means 700 for moving the cuttingelement 120 across the width of the laminate 10A and a means fororienting the cutting element 120 angularly in planes parallel to thecords 22.

The preferred apparatus has a means 900 for supporting the laminate anda means 600 for creating reciprocating movement of the cutting element120. The cutting element 120 is preferably a wire.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates one half of the laminate shown in cross section astaken along lines 1--1 of FIG. 2A, the laminate 10A after beingcut-to-length forms being a carcass for a pneumatic tire.

FIG. 2A is a partial plan view of the carcasses inner surface withcomponents attached.

FIG. 2B is a partial plan view of the carcasses outer surface withcomponents attached, both views FIG. 2A and 2B being slightly inclinedto depict the cut ends 12 and 14.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D are enlarged transverse views of the cutparallel to the cord path of the laminate being cut by the cuttingelement.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of the carcass being cylindricallyformed on a building drum depicting both cut ends, FIG. 4A showing aportion of the cut ends 12, 14 prior to being spliced.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the preferred apparatus employed to formand assemble the carcass.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the preferred cutting apparatus, made inaccordance to the invention. FIG. 6A is a top view of the apparatus ofFIG. 6. FIG. 6B is an end view with the cutting means oriented at anangle β. FIG. 6C is an end view with the cutting means oriented at anangle θ.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view cutting means of the apparatus shown in FIG.6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially shown in cross section,of the securing means or collets shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

DEFINITIONS

"Apex" means an elastomeric filler located radially above the bead coreand between the plies and the turnup ply.

"Bead" means that part of the tire comprising an annular tensile memberwrapped by ply cords and shaped, with or without other reinforcementelements such as flippers, chippers, apexes, toe guards and chafers, tofit the design rim.

"Belt structure" means at least two annular layers or plies of parallelcords, woven or unwoven, underlying the tread, unanchored to the bead,and having both left and right cord angles in the range from 17° to 27°with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire.

"Carcass" means an unvulcanized laminate of tire ply material and othertire components cut to length suitable for splicing, or already spliced,into a cylindrical or toroidal shape. Additional components may be addedto the carcass prior to its being vulcanized to create the molded tire.

"Chafers" refers to narrow strips of material placed around the outsideof the bead to protect cord plies from the rim, distribute flexing abovethe rim, and to assist in sealing the tire.

"Cord" means one of the reinforcement strands of which the plies in thetire are comprised.

"Innerliner" means the layer or layers of elastomer or other materialthat form the inside surface of a tubeless tire and that contain theinflating fluid within the tire.

"Ply" means a continuous layer of rubber-coated parallel cords.

"Radial" and "radially" mean directions radially toward or away from theaxis of rotation of the tire.

"Radial ply tire" means a belted or circumferentially-restrictedpneumatic tire in which the ply cords which extend from bead to bead arelaid at cord angles between 65° and 90° with respect to the equatorialplane of the tire.

"Shoulder" means the upper portion of sidewall just below the treadedge.

"Shoulder gum strip" means an elastomeric reinforcement located in theshoulder region of the carcass.

"Sidewall" means that portion of a tire between the tread and the bead.

"Tread" means a rubber component which when bonded to a tire carcassincludes that portion of the tire that come into contact with the roadwhen the tire is normally inflated and under normal load.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D there is illustratedan intermediate article of manufacture 10, the intermediate article ofmanufacture 10 being a cut-to-length laminate, the cut-to-lengthlaminate being a carcass 10 for a radial ply pneumatic tire.

FIG. 1 illustrates the intermediate article of manufacture 10, thearticle as shown is one-half of a tire carcass 10, the portion of thecarcass not illustrated being identical to the illustrated portion. Thefigure shows the carcass 10 as a flat laminate composite structurehaving first and second CUT ends 12,14 at the longitudinal extremes ofthe carcass 10 and comprising many elastomeric components. As shown allthe components are either sheets or strips of material of substantiallythe same length. Each component shown is precisely located laterallyrelative to one another. The article and the method and apparatus forproducing this laminated structure is disclosed in copendingapplications entitled "A PNEUMATIC TIRE AND AN UNVULCANIZED CARCASS ASAN INTERMEDIATE ARTICLE IN ITS MANUFACTURE" and "A METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR BUILDING A LAMINATE AND FORMING A CARCASS FOR A TIRE FROM ANASSEMBLY OF TIRE COMPONENTS," Ser. No. 08/369,026 and 08/369,192respectively which are incorporated herein by reference.

The laminate 10A, when manufactured as shown in FIG. 5, can be made intoa continuous roll 210. The carcass material in the form of a laminate10A can then be, in its preassembled state, stored in large rolls 210which when sent to a tire building station is cut to a precise length(L) by the unique cutting apparatus 100 of the present invention. Thecut-to-length carcass 10 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B is then formed intoa cylindrical shape as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

FIG. 1 depicts a cord reinforced elastomeric member 20, the elastomericmember being a ply for a pneumatic tire, the ply 20 being reinforcedwith parallel cords 22 which are encapsulated in unvulcanized rubber 24.As shown in FIG. 2B, the ply 20 has a width (W_(p)) and a length (L).The ply 20 has a pair of turnup portions 26 located at the lateralextremes of the ply 20. Each turnup portion 26 extends axially outwardlyto a lateral end 29 of the ply 20.

Attached to an outer surface 21 of the ply 20 is a pair of apexes 30.The apexes 30 are located on the ply adjacent to the turnup region 26 ata position to wrap about and primarily above a bead at a later tirebuilding assembly procedure. The bead preferably employed is a cablebead type.

Axially inward of the apex 30 and attached to an inner surface 23 of theply is a pair of shoulder gum strips 40. The shoulder gum strips act asa rubber reinforcement in the shoulder portion 27 of the carcass 10.

A liner component 50 is attached to the ply and over the shoulder gumstrips 40. The liner 50 creates an air impervious barrier for theradially inner air chamber of the tubeless type tire. The liners aregenerally comprised of halobutyl rubber. The liner 50 has an axial widthnarrower than the ply 20. The liner width is sufficient to traverseaxially outward of the beads when the tire is formed thus forming an airtight chamber between the tire and the wheel upon assembly.

A chafer component 60 is shown at each lateral end 51, 52 of the liner50. The chafer is attached to the liner 50, to the inner surface 23 ofthe ply 20, and slightly overlaps the sidewall component 70. The chafer60 is positioned axially to provide a tough rubber reinforcement betweenthe tire and the rim flange of the wheel and is accordingly located inthe bead region of the tire.

A sidewall component 70 is shown attached to the ply and extendslaterally outward of the lateral ends 29 of the ply 20. The sidewall 70is slightly overlapped by the chafer 60. Optionally, to build an outlinewhite letter tire or a whitewall tire, a whitewall strip 80 and a coverstrip 90 may be added to the laminate 10A as shown in FIG. 5.

It is believed preferable in cases where a non cable bead is used in thetire construction that the apex 30 be added at a later stage as is shownin FIG. 5. This enables the laminate 10A to be wound into large rolls210 without any distortion of the calendered components. Alternatively,in cases where an apex 30 and cable bead is used it is believedpreferable to couple the carcass assembly apparatus 200 of FIG. 5 to oneor more tire building machines without requiring the laminate 10A to berolled onto the spool 210. This enables the cut-to-length carcass 10 tobe manufactured free of any potential distortions caused by handling andstorage. In the latter case where an apex 30 is employed, the cutting ofthe article should occur between the forming of the laminate 10A andapplying the cut-to-length carcass 10 to the tire building machine.

The above description of the laminate 10A includes all the elastomericcomponents required to build a tubeless tire carcass 10 as it is definedin this patent application.

The term laminate 10A as used throughout this application refer to theassembly of components prior to being cut to a predetermined length.Once cut to length, the term carcass 10 is used to refer to the articlewhich when formed into a cylindrical shape on a tire building drum 5becomes a carcass for a radial ply tire.

In practicing the invention, a supported laminate 10A is cut forming afirst inclined surface or end 12, moved a predetermined distance in adirection parallel to its length and after being so moved, the laminate10A is cut a second time, thereby forming a cut section of laminate,hereinafter called a carcass 10, having surface areas at the sectionsopposite ends 12,14, the surface areas 12,14 being spaced apredetermined distance required to enable the ends 12,14 to be splicedtogether in forming a cylindrical carcass 10 from the cut section. Thisunique cutting of a laminate 10A is described in detail below.

FIGS. 2A and 2B depict the first end 12 and the second end 14respectively of the carcass 10. Both ends 12 and 14 are cut along anaxial or a lateral extending substantially straight line path, the pathbeing substantially parallel to the cords 22 of the ply 24. Thissubstantially straight line cutting creates a first end or surface area12 and a second end or surface area 14. The surface areas 12 and 14 areinclined at an angle θ greater than 60° relative to a normal plane (NP),the normal plane (NP) being perpendicular to the ply 20 andsubstantially parallel to the cords 22 of the ply 20. In the preferredembodiment the angle θ is about 80°. This high angle of inclinationprovides a large surface area of adhesion between the two ends 12,14which are spliced at the tire building drum 5 as shown in FIGS. 4A and4B. The carcass assembly 10 is shown wrapped about a tire building drum5. The carcass ends 12 and 14 have two inclined substantially flatplanar surfaces lying in planes P. The operator splices the ends 12 and14 together along the plane P. As shown in FIG. 4A the preferred methodof cutting creates ribs or ridges 81 and grooves or valleys 82 along thecut surfaces 12 and 14. The substantially parallel ridges 81 and valleys82 further enhance the surface adhesion.

With reference to FIGS. 3A,3B there is shown an enlarged transverse viewof the cut of the laminate 10A being cut by a cutting element 120, thecutting element as shown being an oscillating wire 120. The oscillatingwire 120 cuts a roll of cut of the laminate 10A into cut-to-lengthcarcasses 10.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of the preferred cutting apparatus 100according to the invention. The preferred apparatus 100 includes cuttingmeans 102 which includes a cutting element 120. The cutting element 120is preferably a wire made of high tensile steel and has a first end 140and a second end 160. The wire 120 is preferably round in the crosssection and has a diameter between 0.2 millimeters and 1.3 millimeters.The preferred wire of this embodiment has a diameter of 0.3 millimeter(0.012 inches) and a smooth surface finish.

The first and second ends 140,160 of the wire 120 are secured withinsecuring means. The preferred securing means of this embodiment arecollets 220,240. With reference to FIG. 8, an enlarged view of collet220 is illustrated. The following description of collet 220 also appliesto collet 240. The collet 220 includes the first inner cylindricalhousing 280 having an outer threaded surface 320. The collet 220 alsoincludes a second outer cylindrical housing or thumb nut 380 having aninner threaded surface 400 for engaging the threads on the outer surface320 of the first housing 280. The thumb nut 380 can be rotated relativeto the first housing 280 to secure and tension the second end 160 of thewire 120 within a collet body 410. Preferably the wire 120 is placed intension when in normal operation.

With reference to FIG. 3B the wire 120 is shown in an inclined position,i.e., the wire makes an angle θ with respect to a plane (NP), plane (NP)being perpendicular to the cord reinforced elastomeric ply 20 andparallel to the cords 22 within that material. The angle θ preferably isgreater than 60° although the preferred angle is greater than 70°,essentially about 80°. Some experimental tires were made having alaminate carcass 20 cut an angle θ of 82°. As shown in FIGS. 3B,3C and3D the cut ends adjacent the cord 22 actually bend the wire cutter 120such that a small fraction of the cut end does not lay in the plane P,the cut ends 12 and 14 nevertheless are substantially entirely in planeP except for this small deviation at the cords 22. Accordingly for theinvention the cuts are considered substantially linear.

The laminate 10A is cut along a majority of its width and thicknesswhile maintaining the cutting element 120 that engages the laminate 10Aat an angle θ as shown in FIGS. 3B, 3C, and 3D. These cuts are bestaccomplished if the laminate 10A is supported by a surface, preferablybeing supported on both sides of the cutting element 120. As shown inFIG. 6C, the support means 900 is slotted to allow the cutting elementto pass through the laminate 10A. If the cutting action has a high peakto peak amplitude, it may be desirable to clamp or hold the laminate tothe support means 900.

With continuing reference to the apparatus 100 as shown in FIGS.6,6A-6C, the arms 420 and 480 are oscillated for reciprocating movementof the wire 120 at a predetermined oscillation rate. In the preferredembodiment, the means 600 for creating reciprocating movement is aneccentric 602 which is affixed to a crank gear 652 which is connected toa second gear counter balance 650 attached to an output shaft 640 of avariable speed motor 680. The eccentric 602 is pivotally connected tothe first arm 420 by a crank arm 620. The variable speed motor 680 canbe adjusted, the shaft 640 rotated thereby, so that the oscillating ratecan vary up to about 2,000 cycles per minute while having a fullpeak-to-peak amplitude up to 2.5 cm. Higher oscillating rates areachievable using lower amplitudes and higher amplitudes are achievablewith generally lower oscillation rates. In the preferred embodiment, theoscillating rate is adjustable based on parameters such as the thicknessand type of elastomeric member being cut and the transverse speed of thewire 120. One preferred combination is an oscillating rate of 1,200cycles per minute and a transfer speed of about 1 centimeter per second.

The cutting means 102 further comprises a slidable frame 520 and a means700 for creating relative motion between the wire 120 and theelastomeric material to be cut by the cutting means 102. In thepreferred embodiment, the means 700 comprises a ball screw 740 attachedto pillow blocks 751, the ball screw 740 being driven by a variablespeed motor 780 which powers a belt assembly 750 which is connected tothe ball screw 740. The frame 520 is mounted on linear bearings 871slidably supported on rods 870 which are fixed in shaft brackets 820,the brackets 820 being mounted on a stationary support 880 to providelow friction movement of the frame 520 relative to the stationarysupport. The frame 520 is connected to the ball screw 740 via thethreaded bracket 521.

In operation, an elongated laminate 10A consisting of elastomericcomponents and a cord reinforced ply suitable for use as a tire carcass10 is placed on a means 900 for supporting the laminate, the means 900may be a substantially flat plate or table having a slot for the cuttingelement 120 to traverse, the slotted plate supporting the laminate 10Awhile it is being cut. The motor 680 is started causing the crank arm620 to oscillate a "C" arm 450, the "C" arm 450 having a first arm 420which is integrally part of or connected to a second arm 480 by a centerlink 540 causing the second arm to oscillate to provide for oscillationof the cutting wire 120. In practice, the "C" arm 450 can bestructurally lightened by machining away or milling material away fromthe "C" arm 450, preferably while maintaining the arms 450 structuralrigidity. For this purpose a plurality of holes or slots can be cut intothe "C" arm 450. The motor 780 is then actuated for moving the frame 520to the right as shown toward a position adjacent to motor 780 and toengagement with the elastomeric laminate 10. Alternatively, the "C" arm450 can have a means for oscillating the wire 120 only, the means beinga small high speed pneumatic cylinder which is attached directly to thewire. The means (not illustrated) can oscillate the wire 120 in asimilar fashion as the above-described mechanism.

As the oscillating wire 120 engages the elastomeric laminate 10A itforms a slit in the material. Then, as the wire advances through thecarcass material 10A, the wire 120 displaces the material ahead of theslit in small increments so that the wire 120 can advance evenly. It isbelieved that cutting is facilitated by the adherence of a contact layerof the elastomeric material to the wire 120 which takes place until thelimit of shear stress for contact layer is reached. As shown in FIG. 4Athe cut splice surface may be striated by the process which provides asurface with parallel rib or ridges 81 and groove or valleys 82 smearedby the oscillating reciprocating wire 120. The preferred wire 120 has asmooth outer surface which is believed to enhance this rubber smearingaction. The use of a grit or roughened surfaced wire 120 would alsoprovide a proper angular cut surface, however, these cutting wires aremore expensive and, therefore, are not preferred. The cut surface beingsmeared is found to be desirable for splicing cut ends 12,14 of thecarcass 10.

Although it is believed ideal for the oscillating wire 120 to bemaintained at a constant angle throughout the cutting of the carcass 10it has also been determined that it is preferable to change or alter theorientation of the wire relative to the ply just prior to the wire 120entering into cutting engagement of the ply 20. As shown in FIG. 3A, ifthe wire 120 is reoriented to an angle β, β being less than the angle θ,it has been determined that the wire 120 will reliably enter into thecord reinforced ply material in a repeatable fashion. Once entry intothe ply 20 is made the oscillating cutting wire 120 can then bereoriented back to the angle θ as shown in FIG. 3B and a completecutting across the axial width of the member can be finished as shown inFIG. 3C. It has been observed that when cutting closely spaced cordreinforced material, the oscillating wire 120 should preferably beoriented at an angle β, β being less than 45° relative to the plane (NP)just prior to the wire entering into the ply cord region, β preferablythe wire being oriented about 0° relative to the plane (NP). Thisensures that the oscillating wire 120 does not impact or cut into a cord22 upon entry, thereby, preventing the oscillating wire cutting meansfrom damaging the laminate.

The apparatus 100 as described above, is capable of cutting rather thincord reinforced elastomeric sheet material. A means 960 can be providedto set or fix the angular orientation of the cutting element 120.Additionally, the means 960 can be provided to change the orientation ofthe cutting element 120 as it cuts. The means 960 as shown is aactuating motor connected to the belt assembly 950. The belt assembly950 is connected to a rotatable shaft 970 which is connected to the "C"arm 450 through the housing bracket 971 and fixed to the bracket 973 asillustrated in FIG. 6 by the fasteners 972, the arm 450 pivotallyconnected to the bracket 973 by bracket 230 and shaft 232. Whenactuated, the motor 960 can rotate the belt 950 from a first orientationto a second orientation and can reverse orientation upon reactivation. Aproximity switch 975 is triggered as the cutting means traverses acrossthe laminate 10A thus activating the motor 960. The oscillating wirecutter 120 can enter the laminate 10A oriented as shown in FIG. 3B at anangle θ of 60° or more relative to a plane perpendicular to the ply 20and parallel to its cords 22. Upon entry into the cord reinforced ply ashort distance, the oscillating wire cutter traverses and can beactually guided through the cutting process by maintaining contact withan adjacent rubberized cord. The rubberized cord acts as a guide for theoscillating wire cutter as is shown in FIG. 3B.

The apparatus 100 as described above, using a round oscillating wirecutter 120 guided by the cords 22 of the reinforced elastomeric laminate10A upon which it is cutting, provides an extremely reliable and safemeans for cutting the cord reinforced member 10 without damaging any ofthe cords 22. Secondarily and of equal if not greater importance theoscillating wire cutter 120 being oriented at the relatively high angleθ over substantially the entire width of the laminate 10A enables thereinforced member to be cut at an angle heretofore believed to beunachievable. This large angular cut provides substantially flat planarsurfaces 12,14 lying in the plane P for splicing a cylindrical carcass10. These surfaces 12,14 provide excellent adhesion and have enabled thecarcass components be laminated directly onto the cord reinforced plystock 20 prior to cutting the laminate 10A. This greatly facilitates themanufacture of a pneumatic tire carcass 10 and results in extremely highlevels of efficiency.

The oscillating action of the wire 120 tends to smear the rubber as itcuts the elastomeric material. Therefore, when cutting through a carcass10 having a whitewall or outline white letter strip component 80 it isbelieved that the smearing must be kept to a minimum. Since this whitematerial is axially outboard of the ply end 29, it is possible to simplyguillotine cut that portion of the sidewall and then let the inclinedwire 120 pass through the pre-cut slit prior to the wire 120 initiatingits oscillating cutting of the remainder of the laminate 10A.

Alternatively, it is possible to limit the wire oscillation amplitude toa fraction of an inch to reduce the amount of smearing. This method ispreferred because it enables the laminate to have the surfaces inclinedalmost entirely at the angle θ.

In either case the cutting must be such as to prevent smearing of thewhite material along the splice lines 14,16.

As can be seen from the above description the apparatus and method ofcutting a cord reinforced elastomeric member as disclosed is extremelysimple and reliable and yet provides for a splice joint that is superiorto those known in the prior art.

It is believed feasible that other than a wire cutting means 102 couldbe employed to cut the elastomeric article. For example, the cuttingmeans 102 may employ an ultrasonic cutter, a water jet cutter, a lasercutter or any number of alternative cutting elements 120. While suchalternative cutting means may be within the scope of the invention itmust be remembered that the cutting action should not damage thereinforcement cords. Applicants have attempted several alternatives tothe smooth cutting wire 120, however, these alternatives appear to bemore complicated and more prone to damaging cords.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of cutting a cord reinforced elastomericlaminate, the laminate having a length, a width and a thickness andincluding at least one cord reinforced elastomeric radial ply, theradial ply having parallel cords oriented at an angle from 65° to 90°relative to the length of the laminate, and a plurality of elastomericcomponents laminated to the ply, the method of cutting the laminatecomprising the steps of:cutting the laminate across a majority of thewidth and thickness of the laminate at an angle θ greater than 60°relative to a plane (NP), the plane (NP) being perpendicular to the plyand parallel to the cords in the ply, the cutting being accomplished bypassing a cutting element through the ply and laminated components fromone side of the laminate to the other side until the ply and otherlaminated components are cut, the cutting element being passed betweentwo adjacent parallel cords of the ply in a region of the ply; changingthe angle θ prior to cutting the ply by changing relative position ofthe cutting element and the ply to an angle β, βbeing measured relativeto the plane (NP), the plane (NP) being perpendicular to the ply andparallel to the cords, β being less than θ; cutting into the ply a shortdistance sufficient to position the cutting element between the twoparallel cords; and reorienting the cutting element relative to the plyto the angle θ and continuing to cut the laminate across said width. 2.The method of cutting a laminate, as in claim 1 wherein the angle θ isabout 80°.
 3. The method of cutting a laminate as claimed in claim 2,the method further comprising the step of:guiding the cutting element asthe cutting element traverses through the cord reinforced elastomericply, the cutting element being guided by one of the adjacent cords alonga cutting path.
 4. The method of cutting a laminate as in claim 1, themethod further compromising the step of:oscillating the cutting elementas the cutting element cuts through the laminate.
 5. A method of cuttingan uncured rubber laminate, the laminate having a fixed width, athickness, and a length longer than required, to a predetermined length,the laminate after cutting being used to form a carcass for a radial plypneumatic tire, the laminate having a ply that becomes radially orientedin the tire, the ply being reinforced by parallel cords and two or morenon-reinforced elastomeric components laminated to the ply, the methodof cutting comprising the steps of;a) supporting the laminate at aposition spaced from a cutting element; b) urging the cutting elementinto cutting engagement with the laminate; c) orienting the cuttingelement at an angle θ relative to a plane perpendicular to a ply surfaceand parallel to the ply cords, the angle θ being greater than 70°; d)cutting the laminate by advancing the cutting element, the cuttingelement including a wire that is advanced within the laminate to createthe cut, the laminate being cut across a majority of the laminate widthand thickness while maintaining a majority of a portion of the cuttingelement that engages the laminate at an angle θ, the cutting elementbeing guided by adjacent parallel cords in a region of the ply, andwherein the cutting is achieved by changing relative orientation of theply and the cutting element to a second angle β, wherein β is less thanθ, prior to the cutting element entering the ply, and then cutting intothe ply, and after the cutting element enters the ply, changing relativeposition of the ply and the cutting element to the angle θ, and thencutting the laminate across remainder of said width, e) moving the cutlaminate a predetermined distance in a direction parallel with thelaminate length; and f) cutting the laminate a second time with thecutting element repeating steps c, d and e above, thereby forming a cutsection of laminate having cut ends, each cut end having a cut surfacearea the cut surface areas being spaced a predetermined distancerequired to enable the cut ends to be spliced together in forming acylindrical carcass from the cut section.
 6. The method of cutting anuncured rubber laminate as in claim 5, wherein the step of cutting thelaminate further includes the step of:oscillating the cutting element,the cutting element including a wire that is oscillated within thelaminate to create the cut.
 7. The method of cutting an uncured rubberlaminate as in claim 5, wherein the radial ply of the laminate has theparallel cords oriented at about 90°.
 8. The method of cutting anuncured rubber laminate as in claim 5 where the angle θ is about 80°. 9.The method of cutting an uncured rubber laminate as in claim 5 whereinthe step (d) further comprises the step of:guiding the cutting elementas the cutting element traverses through the laminate between twoadjacent parallel cords, the cutting element being guided by one of theadjacent cords along the path.